NEW YORK — If the New York Rangers’ youth hasn’t looked overwhelmed by the magnitude of playing in the Eastern Conference final, it’s probably because they’re not.
Friday’s 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning moved them two wins away from a trip to the Stanley Cup Final, with up to five games remaining in the series to get it done.
The Rangers ended the Lightning’s NHL-record 18-game streak of following a playoff loss with a win.
The Blueshirts have been the better team through two games with the two-time defending champs, who have looked a step slow and dealt with countless frustrations at the hands of star goalie Igor Shesterkin.
But a bigger test will be seeing if the Rangers – who have won four in a row going back to the previous round – can carry this momentum to Tampa, which is where Game 3 will be played at 3 pm Sunday.
The Lightning had a chance to turn the tables early, with a power-play goal from Nikita Kucherov giving them a 1-0 lead just 2:41 into the first period. But New York’s response was swift.
As they have throughout the playoffs, it was the under-25 club stepping up when the Rangers needed a boost.
K’Andre Miller tied the score for roughly three minutes. His first attempt was blocked by Brandon Hagel, but he regathered and shot again from the high slot, beating Tampa goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy on the glove side.
Then, with 2:28 remaining in the period, it was Kaapo Kakko netting his second goal of the playoffs to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead. It came on a redirection off a pass from Adam Fox, who faked out Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta and then weaved a pass through traffic to Kakko at the far post.
Fox had set up Alexis Lafrenière for a prime chance moments earlier and was a wizard with the puck throughout the night. The reigning Norris Trophy winner turned in one of his best games of the playoffs, finishing with two assists while eating up a team-high 25:12 time on ice, creating four takeaways and making a few key plays in the defensive zone.
The Rangers carried that momentum into the second period, where they would hold Tampa to only three shots on goal through the first 14:20. During that time, they generated 14 shots of their own and had several chances to pad their lead.
The Kid Line featuring Lafrenière, Chytil and Kakko was at the center of that push, with that trio combining for nine shots on goal while sustaining offensive-zone time for impressive stretches.
An 0-for-4 showing from the Rangers on the power play kept the Lightning within striking distance, as they ended the second with a push for the typing goal. But Shesterkin made seven saves in the final 5:40 of the period to maintain the lead.
To begin the third, it was a familiar source of offense coming through with the all-important insurance goal.
Fox scooped up a Tampa giveaway in the neutral zone and tapped the puck to Mika Zibanejad, who then beat Vasilevskiy over the right shoulder to tie for the team lead with nine playoff goals to make it 3-1.
That turned out to be critical, as Nick Paul scored with 2:04 remaining to cut the Lightning deficit to 3-2.
Shesterkin survived a furious ending to finish with 29 saves, including 13 in the third period – and one huge one while sprawling across the crease on Steven Stamkos with under a minute to play.
Around the rinks
The NHL fined Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Kassian $2,500 for ripping off the helmet of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram while Kassian sat on the bench. ….Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price won the Masterton Trophy for perseverance. …. The Boston Bruins announced that Charlie McAvoy (shoulder), Matt Grzelcyk (shoulder) and Mike Reilly (ankle) had surgery and will be out six, five and three months respectively.
friday’s game
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers, 8, TNT. Avalanche lead 2-0
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism